New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-06-16
CURSING THE PRESIDENT.
GEN. FAIRcHILD,s IMpAssIoNEp SPEECH.
CALLING on THE ALMIGHTY TO PALSY THE BRAIN, |
HAND AND TONGUE THAT ORDERED THE
RETURN OF THE RRBEL FLAGS.

CALLING on THE ALMIGHTY TO PALSY THE BRAIN,
HAND AND TONGUE THAT ORDERED THE
RETURN OF THE REBEL FLAGS.
Harlem Association Hall, at Fourth-ave. and One
hundred land ninth-st. brilliantly lighted
last evening, the occasion being the reoeption OF
General Lu,ius Fairchld, commander rD-ehfef OF the
Grand Army Of the Republic of the United States, by
Alexander Hamilton Post No. 1872, Department of Now
York. General Faechild in full uniform aud empty coat
sleeve arrived carly, accompanied by Department.
Junioc Woe Commander c. Howell Grant aud Fast
Commander-in-Chief Hedges Corporal Tanner aud
several other visiting comrades occupied places OF
honor General Faircbid va wecvm ed IN appro-
pirate terms by Post Commander Andrew NJ. Under
hill, Of the Guion Steamship Line.
Before the meeting opened 1t became known thai
General Ross. OF Austin, Tex, had received letter
from the hdutsnt-G of the Cnited States Army
stating that President Cleveland had approved the
ndation to return all the Confederate flags In
the care of the War Department to the Southern
states from whose regiments the flags had been
captured during the War; and that the writer mad
been instructed by the Secretary OF War to carry it
into effect.
May God palsy the hand that wrote the order
Nav God palsy the brain that conceived 1t and may
God palsy the tongue that dictated it," were the first
words which tell from the lips OF General Farohiid
Around HIM every side were worn veterans III
uniform Without hardly waiting tor the usual INTRO
ductiou the armed leader burst forth with these
tApEc-sIOns OF Rrlel duu lHulPudtlou' iho pe"Ni"'
then told OF the news received by telegraph to the
e0,ci that the President had approved the return OF
the Rebel flags and added that those flags had zen
won by the veterans o: the Grand Army OF the Re-
pubic open conflict with the enemies OF the Nation
Ths veterans had placed their trophies in the care
OF the War Department They were intended ne SAID
TO kept in the archives of the Nation mementoes
OF hard fields of battle. He continued:
How can the present loyal Governors OF the South
ern States accept embems OF treason alter their pro-
- lAra HntA m
them TO the Secretary and that they have nothing
TO do with Che flags tho rebel organizations are
extinct and their governors are deadi
General Fairchild said that he had frequently
listened to sentiments which caused him to bite his
tongue in the effort to maintain self control. In the
last nine months he had visited Grand Army of the
Republi, posts in every State in the North. East and
West He had never in any post meeting heard any
tling but kiudly'feengs expressed toward the men
who had looked into the gun.barrels Of Northern
troops during the wac.
As Commander in. Chief the General SAID that he
had tried to encourage this kindly feeling. Now this
was changed. The time had come to speak IN the
name of the Organization II he could not protest
against it as Commander Chie of the Grand Army
OF the Republic he would resign, and protest ss a
private citizen. But he was satisfied that $4,000
Grand Army Of the Republic veterans wonld rise as
i solemn protest against any such disposition
OF the trophies such fearful sacr flee OF blood
kaisins his only hand the General said: appeal
to the ssutlment of the Nation to forbid this sncrege
There vas a moments silence. Wild hurrah Ike the
old battle cry went up For few minutes nothing
could be DONE men cheered and hurrahed, wild with
the old spirit thoroughly aroused. Then cnne loud
calls OF Corporal Tanner. The old veteran rose and
all was hushed.
Corporal fanuer apoloened for coming without his
G. A. II. badge One OF the Infantry recruited sineS
the war" asked him wis he was gong out oi the
house without a.G. a. X. badge He answered that
after the sction oi the President in the ot 'hc
rebel flags the NJ 1t thing soud be an order demand
IN, A. tt..N .tsT4 oi
q. A. X. badges. they were made OF metal cast
frOm guns caplu ed in the war.
TIE veteran was surprised that such an order
shonId ,manate IRON one who, during The lr
the iul vgor manhood. sturd and strong. yet who
was represented In tho field by substitute drawn
-ougt tie Erie penitentlnry. Every enLbef should
az 80 hi the might OF a veteran and protest aganst
tn. decoration. The proposed trip OF Cleyeland
10 ~, Louis n ii been discussed by veterans He had
advised The Western veterans treat the President
with iespect due him. but now had come an order
from which nothing could como bat condemnation
ami result in damuatioi. Corporal Tanner concluded
with th6 quotation Whom the gods wish to destroy
Tiny lrst make mad
Again nothing could be heard for some time in the
burst o enthu-iasm which ioil"wed. When 1t had
.nb-i6ed Edward kendrirk former Inspector General
OF the Department o. Newfork under li-neral Scklcs
raped the platform and offered the following leso-
utons
Wh,ea' The President OF the United states having Hp,
gloy s a 6eons,nS % u9 10 the southern
states In rebellion dnrins ih' e & S M war sncS DC ana s" 40
ton - they may determiue; be Il ,, ., tho ,o,, y,
Kcsfrsd That TINS views WIN aCtAoh VI
IN, President Ofd- IL protests thereto: and
Hssorcd That of blood which the captured
embrus represent, sacrifice to liberty. National union
to ttOis AMI -. -...
Resored sentiment Of generosity ana no express
SION OF arnanimy involved In the surrender OF these
covenants Of National honor and -
Resored That only remains 10 direct mat the Dat TO-
nae- bo distributed among The OF
-oralei Conedrracy. amt AZ hitting acknowledgements
OF ~ rignteouaness of the " Lost cause, ana
I % m ma . % Pro,n gG,t X the tncd %So has
dsas-Ocated IRON the memories o the war for inc
Union.
Samuel J. Tlayer seconded the resolutions, and they
were arried with a shout that shook the walls. Ar
rnnnements will be made To have ndssrI eetjng OF
veteran. rext week to protest against the action OF
a..